PhD Theses (WII)

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Habitat, food resource utilization of Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus, Horsfield 1826) and conflict with humans in Lahaul valley, Himachal pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2023) Kumar, Vineet; Adhikari, B.S.; Sharma, Lalit Kumar
Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) is one of the top carnivores dominating the higher altitudes of the North and Western Himalayan landscape. In India, based on the 2005 estimate the approximate brown bear distribution range is reported to be 36,800 km2 , whereas only 10% of the total distribution area of the brown bear comes under the protected areas. There is very low density of brown bear lies in its distribution range throughout the Western Himalaya, in alpine meadows, scrub and sub-alpine forests of two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir; and Ladakh) and two Indian Himalayan States, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Due to its inaccessible and high altitude habitat, the brown bear has been poorly studied in India, as well as in other parts of the Asian highlands.In the recent decade, the widespread exponential growth of the human population, infrastructure development, and agricultural intensification has led to the alteration of natural habitats into human-modified landscapes, bringing humans and wildlife into close proximity. In areas where brown bear and human habitation are in close proximity, brown bears feed on agricultural/horticultural crops and livestock predation leads to human-brown bear conflict and lessens local tolerance for bears. As the human settlements encroach further into remote areas, bear-human conflict escalates. Himalayan brown bear in its distribution range in India facing prevailing threats such as habitat loss, cropland expansion, anthropogenic disturbances, human brown bear conflict and climate changes. The present study was proposed to understand in detail the habitat use and feeding habits of brown bear with respect to human-brown bear conflict to develop mitigation strategies. For conducting this study, the vast geographic area of Lahual valley was stratified into different habitats and then divided into 10 km × 10 km grids for extensive study. First objective of this study aimed to understand the habitat utilization pattern of the Himalayan brown bear in selected grids of Lahaul Valley across the seasons (Intensive study area). To achieve this objective sign survey and camera trapping data was used and sixty-five logistically possible grids were surveyed across the seasons (summer and pre-hibernation), in different habitats and elevation gradients.he findings of the present study highlight a distinct seasonal pattern in habitat use of the Himalayan brown bear. In summer, bears predominantly utilized the areas with extensive vegetation cover as evidenced by a positive association with rangeland and Shannon diversity index and NDVI-summer, particularly away from the human settlements in the elevation range of 3000m to 4500m. Conversely, in the per-hibernation phase, Himalayan brown bear tends to avoid high-altitude areas with limited vegetation, opting for areas with available vegetative materials. Notably, habitat use was concentrated in the elevation range of 2800m to 3800m closer to the human settlements in comparison to summer. Regardless of the season, the Himalayan brown bear utilizes areas near roads, emphasizing the availability of anthropogenic food resources.
Ranging Patterns of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) with reference to food availability in Dachigam National Park, Kashmir
(wildlife Institute of India, 2012) Sharma, Lalit Kumar; Sathyakumar, S.
Asiatic black bear are threatened due to poaching for gall bladder (medicine), skin (ornamental), retaliatory killings to reduce bear-human conflicts, and due to large scale habitat degradation or loss. The present study was carried out during 2007-2011 to address the issues related to movement patterns of black bear in relation to food availability in Dachigam landscape and to understand the food and feeding habits of black bear in different seasons. Habitat characterization and mapping were carried out to assess habitat quality and to understand the level of fragmentation and composition of Dachigam landscape. The forest fragmentation analysis in the present study suggested intermediate level of fragmentation and it is likely to increase because of human encroachment on the forest land. The forested fragmentation can adversely impact the movement of bear in the landscape which may lead to demographic as well as genetic isolation of species, hence leading to population fragmentation and extirpation.
Habitat suitability evaluation for leopard (Panthera pardus) using remote sensing and GIS in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal
(wildlife Institute of India, 2011) Thapa, Tej Bahadur; Mathur, V.B.; Goyal, S.P.
The leopard Panthera pardus is one of the large felid of Asia and Africa that is threatened by habitat loss and direct conflicts with humans. Owing to low population densities and cryptic habits leopard has remained little studied. This study evaluated landscape characteristics; determined distribution and relative abundance of leopards, analyzed diets of leopards and assess the extent, nature of human leopard conflicts and examined habitat use and preference in and around the Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone (CNPBZ), Nepal. Methodologies used to accomplish these objectives included remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), ecological field work (line transect sampling for prey, camera trapping for leopard and scat collection), social surveys and lab work for diet determination using micro histological technique. Abundance and density information forms the baseline for conservation planning. Camera-trap surveys were carried out during winter 2008/09 and 2010. This study provided much needed baseline information on habitat characteristics of CNPBZ, abundance of leopard and prey population, feeding ecology and prey selection by leopard, leopard- human conflicts and habitat use of leopards.
Study of leopard menace, food habits and habitat parameters in Mandi Distrcit, Himachal Pradesh.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Kumar, Devender; Chauhan, N.P.S.
This study deals status, distribution and relative abundance of leopard in relation to habitat characteristics of leopard. Estimation of status of leopard population and its distribution become more important in an area when a species is highly threatened due to continuous habitat degradation and loss of habitat due to the increasing human population. Many carnivore species are rare or elusive, and documenting their distribution is difficult. Habitat requirement is also one of the most important factors which influence the distribution and abundance of a species, therefore habitat evaluation is a vital step in the formulation of carnivore management in an area. Large carnivores need large areas of relatively wild habitat. The assessment of nature and extent of man leopard conflict in relation to land use pattern. Carnivores exert a profound influence on biological communities via predation and interspecific competition. Human-carnivore conflict is considered to be a major conservation and rural livelihood issue because many carnivore species have been heavily persecuted due to elevated conflict levels with communities. Present study documented about the enormity of the problem, problem areas and human casualties and livestock depredation with respect to places of occurrence, season, time and circumstances of attack. It would help plan mitigation of leopard problem, besides conservation and future scientific management of the species in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh

PhD Theses (WII)

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